Success and a Challenge: Planning Updates
1. Success – Conservation Area Reviews
Over a year ago our Heritage Team applied to the Council to consider the review of two conservation areas and the designation of the 27th Conservation Area for Worthing. I am delighted to let you that following a Public Consultation, the revised Conservation Area Character Appraisals as detailed below have been adopted by the Council (full appraisals are on the Council’s website)
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Conservation Officer, the Planning Policy Officer and the independent Heritage Consultant for their support and expertise. The results are as follows:
- A new tightly drawn Conservation Area for Marine Gardens and immediate environs becoming the 27th CA for Worthing! This designation will help to protect the gardens which illustrate the development of the west side of Worthing.
- The Goring Hall CA: the fields now comprising the Goring- Ferring Gap appear to have always been in agricultural use so would not normally be designated in the CA. Although the boundary has not been extended the revised Conservation Area Appraisal has been thoroughly reviewed and strengthened. It puts more emphasis on the importance of the Goring-Ferring Gap to the overall ‘setting’ of the conservation area and mansion house and allows views to the South Downs to the north .
- The Steyne Gardens Conservation Area: the boundary has been extended here to include Denton Gardens, the Lifeboat memorial, Beach House Grounds and Beach House Park.
I hope these Character Appraisals will be an extra tool in protecting our heritage.
2. The Challenge-Public Inquiry, Chatsmore Farm, Goring Gap North.
As you may be aware we have been notified that the Public Inquiry regarding the re-determination of the Appeal will commence at 10.00am at the Gordon Room, Worthing Town Hall on Tuesday 17th September (more details are on the Council website). I will be speaking on behalf of the Worthing Society in defence of Chatsmore Farm which is an important open green space and ‘green lung’ between Worthing and Ferring.
Susan Belton
Worthing Society Chair
